In National Day of Action, German Auto Workers Mobilize by the Thousands Against Volkswagen Layoffs

Thousands of workers in the German automotive industry walked off the job and took to the streets on Monday (21) in a major national day of action. The mobilization, called by the trade union IG Metall aimed to halt austerity policies and protect jobs across the sector.

Rallying under the motto “Future instead of devastation – solidarity is our strongest brand,” demonstrators carried out more than 200 actions across key industrial hubs, including Wolfsburg, Zwickau, and Stuttgart. Activities included protest marches, workplace rallies, leaflet distribution, and public demonstrations.

In the southern region of Bavaria alone, protests reached more than 50 companies in the automotive manufacturing and supply industries, with BMW workers also joining a rally in Munich.

The catalyst for the wave of protests was Volkswagen’s management announcement earlier this year outlining plans to cut up to 100,000 jobs in Germany over the next decade.

Corporate Management Transfers the Burden of the Crisis to Workers

To justify the layoffs, corporate executives cite the need for operational restructuring to counter rising competition from Asian automakers — particularly Chinese manufacturers — and to fund the transition to electric vehicles.

However, workers reject this justification, asserting that the company’s plan effectively forces the workforce to shoulder the cost of a crisis they did not create, even as shareholders continue to reap millions of euros in annual profits.

“This is an unprecedented attack on industrial workers,” declared IG Metall leader Christiane Benner. “The employees are the ones being forced to bear the burden of a sector in crisis. This must stop.”

In an official statement, IG Metall reiterated that the crisis in the German automotive industry is largely self-inflicted, stemming from operational failures and missteps by executive management.

“Affordable cars were introduced too late, and key developments in digitalization and batteries were overlooked. Investments in future technologies and production sites were neglected,” stated the union’s release.

Ongoing Mobilization and Key Demands

Monday’s protests built on a series of resistance activities organized by IG Metall throughout the European summer. Core demands presented by the union include:

• Job and Plant Security: Demanding greater corporate investment in domestic production sites rather than short-term cost-cutting;
• Preservation of Working Hours: Firm rejection of proposals to extend the 35-hour workweek — secured through collective bargaining — to 40 hours without additional pay;
• Government Support: Urging policymakers to lower high electricity prices for domestic manufacturing.

International Working-Class Solidarity

Under capitalism, employers consistently rely on the same strategy to manage economic crises: slashing rights and wages for the working class. This makes days of action and general strikes essential tools to block these attacks.

Given the global economic context, building unity between workers’ struggles in Germany, Brazil, and across the world is vital. Full solidarity to German workers fighting against mass layoffs!